It was the main commercial center of the region during the early decades of the Bamana Empire, dominating the salt trade but also hosting important markets for slaves, firearms, cloth, and horses.

In 1794, during the civil war following faama Ngolo Diarra's death, the city was sacked and was overtaken in importance by Sansanding, further downstream.

[4]: 171–2 Nyamina fell to El Hadj Omar Tall without a fight on 25 May 1860 during his campaign to integrate Segou into the Toucouleur Empire.

[5]: 413  The chaos following the Bamana collapse and Tall's death in 1864 severely restricted river trade, with Nyamina as the furthest upstream point that traders could safely visit.

Riverine traffic in general declined precipitously, replaced by overland trade from Nioro du Sahel and the upper Senegal river to Segou.